Safety mechanism fob labeling



Dec. 1, 1942. SJQBERG 2,303,507

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Feb. 7, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 1; 1942. SJOBERG 2,303,507

SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Feb. '7, 1940 l 3 SheetsSheet 2 Dec. 1, 1942. H. A. E. SJOBERG SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LABELING MACHINES s Sheeis-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. '7, 1940 Patented Dec. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,303,501 SAFETY MECHANISM FOR LABELING moms Henry A. E. Sioberg, Grafton, Mass., assignor to Economic Machinery Company, Worcester, Mass.,'a corporation of Massachusetts I Application February 7, 1940, Serial No. 311,718 14 Claims. (01. 91-'-s1) The present invention relates to a machine for applying labels to bottles or other articles and particularly to a mechanism to control the gumming of a label.

In certain types of labelers, one example of which is disclosed in the copending Holm application, Serial No. 285,306, filed'July- 19, 1939, now Patent No. 2,257,055, dated September 23, 1941, the gumming of each label is eifected by relative movement between the gumming elements and a label carrier, this relative movement obtaining a wiping contact of a label on said carrier with said gumming elements. If'during the operation of said machine, the carrier, for any reason, fails to receive a label, the carrier's movement past the gumming mechanism without the label thereon results in the gumming of the carrier itself; this means that the machine must be shut down, for cleaning of the carrier and for removal of any subsequent label that has become adhesively fastened to the carrier. The principal object of the present invention is to prevent the gumming of the carrier when a label is missed or is not in proper position thereon, thereby avoiding such shut-downs of the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of a part of the machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the gum box and its actuating mechanism.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a detail.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the safety latch for the gumming mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a rear view similar to Fig. 5, showing a modification.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the diiferent figures.

The machine shown by the drawings is of the same general type as that disclosed in the aforesaid Holm Patent No. 2,257,055, the machine frame comprising a pair of spaced up i hts i, I, between the lower ends of which extends a suitably ;lournalled main drive shaft 2, carryin the several cams that control the movements of the label-handling parts. The shaft 2 is driven from A horizontally reciprocable labelcarrier 3,

Fig. 2, is mounted on an arm 4 horizontally slidable on a rod 5 and guide bar 6 both extending horizontally from the front to the rear of the machine. The label is held against the underside of the carrier by suction applied through openings 3' therein. These suction openings communicate through an interior chamber and a flexible hoseconnection I with a suitable valve mechanism by which to control the application of suction to and the release of suction from the carrier.

The labels are arranged in a stack supported in nearly upright position by a holder 8 mounted on a bracket 9 attached to one of the side members i. A hollow arm I0 is mounted for rocking movement on a pin ll of bracket 9 and this arm constitutes a suction picker for the removal of the labels one-by-one from the stack and the transfer of each label to a position to be picked up by the carrier. Suction openings iii in the picker communicate by an interior chamber and a suction passage in the arm with a flexible hose l2 connected to the same valve by which the suction to the carrier is controlled.

The picker is rocked from the full line position of Fig. 2 into a substantially horizontal position with the end of the picker directly beneath the path of carrier 3, and this movement is preferably controlled by a cam on the main shaft 2. This cam, not shown, through a suitable follower roll and lever, is connected by a depending rod l3 to a projecting am it on the picker- Hi.

The carrier 3 is reciprocated on its guides forwardly and rearwardly of the machine by a bell crank lever i5 turnable on a pin ii at the upper ends of the side frames or uprights i, i.

One arm of the bell crank lever is connected to the carrier by a link I! having suitable pivotal connections with each part and the other arm of the lever is connected to a depending rod 18, the up and down movements of which are controlled by a cam, not shown, on the main shaft 2.

As the carrier moves toward the rear of the machine it passes over the gumming mechanism which is arranged to apply adhesive, first to onehalf of the label as the carrier moves rearwardly, and to the other half of the label as the carrier moves forwardly. The adhesive is supplied by a pair of parallel adhesive-applying rollers l9 and 20, Fig. 3, supported by the side walls of a box 2| which holds the fluid adhesive and which is supported on a. rocking plate 22. This plate is carried by a shaft 23 extending between the uprights, and rocking of the box is eifected through a rod 24 connected at its upper end by a pin 25 and slot to the plate 22 and at its lower end to an arm 21, Fig. 1, journalled on a shaft 28 mounted in the uprights. A follower .29 on the arm engages a cam 30 on the shaft 2 for suitable rocking of the box. The rod 24 instead of being connected directly to the arm 21 is resiliently connected thereto. To this end thearm has mounted on the end thereof a C-shaped member 3| through one end of which the rod is slidable. A nut 3| on the end of rod 24 is engaged by member 3| to communicate the latters downward movement to said rod; the upward movement of member 3| is communicated to rod 24 through a heavy coil spring 32 surrounding the rod between member 3| and a collar 33 on said rod.

The rollers I! and 2ll are journalled in the opposite side walls of the gum box and interengaging gears 34 and 35 provide for a rotation of the two rollers in opposite directions. The rollers are suitably driven as by a sprocket chain, not shown, connected to the main drive shaft. The rotation of the rollers l9 and 20 is such that the upper surfaces of the rollers move toward each other, as indicated by the arrows, so that the roller surfaces will be moving in the same direction as the label when either roller is en-- gaged thereby.

As the label carrier moves inwardly, (to the left, Fig, 1,) the gum box is tilted counterclockwise to bring the right hand roller against the underside of the label on the carrier, thereby gumming the right hand half of the label from its middle portion to its 'right hand edge. As the carrier reverses and begins its movement to the right, the box is rocked clockwise to bring the left hand roller 20 against the underside of the label for applying adhesive to the left hand half of.the label from its middle portion to its left hand edge. With the gum box horizontal it will be apparent that neither roller will contact .the label or the label carrier.

The bottle a or other package or article to be labeled is positioned on a vertically movable support 35 mounted on the upper end of the rod 31 positioned in a guide 38. This support is reciprocated vertically in timed relation to the other movements of the machine as by a cam on the main drive shaft 2. The cam is so shaped as to raise the bottle a into a position directly beneath and in engagement with the label as soon as the carrier reaches its forward or label depositing position, so that the adhesive-coated label will be deposited on the bottle upon the release of the suction exerted on the label by the carrier.

As soon as the label is deposited on the bottle, the carrier moves rearwardly and the label presser 3! moves downwardly and assures a secure attachment of the label to the bottle. The label presser is mounted on a vertically reciprocable bar 39' whose vertical movement is suitably controlled from a cam on the main drive shaft.

For preventing gumming of the underside of is pivoted on a stationary bracket 4| attached to operative position, in which position the plate is substantially horizontal so that neither roller will engage with the label carrier.

As the carrier 2 moves rearwardly from a position directly above the bottle support 35 into a position to pick up a label from the label picker III, a depending dog 44 on the carrier engages with a roll 45 carried by the latch, thereby rocking the latch out of the operative position shown,

and releasing the plate 22 for the usual rocking movements imparted by cam 30 through'rod 24.

A second latch 45 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 41 secured to one of the uprights I and this latch is suitably connected at one end to the piston rod 48 of a small piston 49 slidable in a cylinder 50. The latter is mounted on the bracket. 41 and is connected by a hose 5| to the hose connection of the suction picker Ill. Thus, when a label has been properly seized by the picker, suction therein and in the cylinder 50 draws the piston 49 to the left and moves the other end of the latch 48 into a position to engage with a lug 450 on the latch 40, holding the latter in the inoperative position to which it is periodically moved by the carrier dog 44 as above described. A spring 49' holds the piston 49 in the right hand position of Fig. 5, in the absence of suction created by the presence of a label on the picker I0.

As shown in Fig. 4, the dog 44 is pivoted at 52 on the carrier arm 4 and has an integral forwardly extending, lug 44 which prevents said dog, during rearward or inward movement of carrier 3, from being rocked on pivot 52 when the roller 45 is engaged; however, on the reverse movement of carrier 3, said dog will rock or Y yield, without depressing said roller 45 and shiftposition below the carrier.

ing the latch 40. Thus the dog 44 is so mounted on the label carrier 3 that it engages and rocks the latch 40 only during the movement of the carrier from label applying position rearwardly to a position to pick up the next label. At this time, under normal conditions, the label is held by the picker and the latter is in a horizontal If, however, a label has been missed by the picker, or if improper positioning of a picked-up label exposes some of the pickers suction holes, then the suction will not be maintained in the picker and thus the piston 49 will not be shifted to the left, for movement of the latch 46; the latter will remain out of operative position so that the control latch 40 will engage the gum box supporting plate 22, as shown in Fig. 5, to prevent the'same from partaking of the rocking movement normally imparted by the cam 30 through rod 24-the spring 32 serving, in this situation, to provide the requimovement. ThLs latch, as shown invFig. 5,

the rod 5 and has a notch 40a at its free .endwhich is engageable with a projectinglug'jflthe rocking plate 22 which supports the gum box 2|. A coil spring 43 extends between the latch site lost motion between member 3| and rod 24.

in the same manner as "above; A bracket 45', similar 1 9; ze i fbk 1 din 5, supports a solenoid and the plate 22 t0 yieidingly hold the latch in '15 53, which. when] is adapted to efl'ectretraction .t perative' position of a secondary latch 46', the latter being pivoted on the bracket 48' as by a pin 54. A coil spring 55 normally holds the secondary latch li'in the operative position shown by Fig. 6 to retain the latch 40' out of engagement with therockable gum box support 22. The latch 40' is rocked out of operative position as the label carrier 3 moves rearwardly by a dog 44' similar to the dog 44 above described.

For energizing the solenoid 53, if a label has not been picked up by the picker III for transfer "to the carrier 3, the latter has spaced contacts 58 and 51 in the under surface thereof, these contacts being insulated from each other and connected by wires 58 and 59 to the two terminals of the solenoid B3. The face of the picker III is metallic, and in the event that no label is carried by the picker when the latter is in the position of Fig. 6, an electrical connection between the contacts 58 and I1 is made by the picker face, thereby energizing the solenoid and disengaging the latch l6 from the latch 40'.

In the operation 01' this modification, the label carrier 3 as it moves rearwardly from label applying position into a position to pick up the next label, rocks the control latch 40' into inoperative position through the medium of the dog 44'. The latch 46' then becomes operative to hold the latch 40' inoperative so that the gum box may rock in the normal manner for applying adhesive to the label. However, if a label is not carried by the picker into a position to be transferred to the carrier, there will be no label to prevent the picker from establishing electrical .connection between the contacts 56 and 51.

When this connection is made the solenoid 53 is energized, thereby removing the latch 46 from operative position and allowing the latch 40' to return 'to its operative position. Thus, as the carrier moves rearwardly for the gumming operation, the latch 40' holds the gummed box against rocking and prevents the rollers I9 and 20 from" gumming the underside of the carrier itself.

I claim:

1. In a labeling machine, a reciprocatory label carrier, a gum box having adhesive applying means therein for gumming a label on the carrier, means for moving the gum box into and out of operative position, and means for locking said gum box in inoperative position when a label is not in position on the carrier.

2. In a labeling machine, a label carrier, a gum box having adhesive applying means therein, means providing for a relative movement; between the carrier and box for the application of adhesive to a label on the carrier, and means for locking the gum box in inoperative position when a label is not in place on the carrier.

3. In a labeling machine, adhesive applying means, a reciprocatory label carrier movable past said adhesive applying means for the gumming of a label on the carrier, means for moving the adhesive applying means into operative position for engagement with a label on the carrier, and means for locking said adhesive applying means against movement when a label is not in place on the carrier.

4. In a labeling machine, a label picker, a reciprocatory label carrier to which a label'is transferred by the picker, adhesive app y ng means for a label on the carrier, means for moving the adhesiveapplying means into and out of a position to engage a label on the carrier, and means for locking the adhesive applying means in inoperative position when a label is not delivered to the carrier by the picker.

5. In a labeling-machine, a reciprocatory label carrier, an oscillatory gum box having means therein for applying adhesive to a label on the carrier, and means for locking the gum box against oscillation to thereby retain the adhesive applying means in inoperative position when a label is not in position on the carrier.

6. In a labeling machine, a reciprocatory label carrier, an oscillatory gum box having means therein for applying adhesive to a label on the carrier, and means for locking the gum box againstoscillation to thereby retain the adhesive applying means in inoperative position when alabel is not in position on the carrier, said last means including a latch and means for retaining the latch in inoperative position when a label is properly positioned on the carrier.

7. In a labeling machine, a reciprocable label carrier, an oscillatory gum box having a pair of adhesive applying rollers loumalled therein on parallel axes and alternately engageable with a label on the carrier, and means for locking the gum box against oscillation with both of the rollers out of a position to engage with a label on the. carrier, said last means being operative when no label is in position on the carrier.

8. In a labeling machine, a reciprocable label carrier, an oscillatory gum box having a pair of adhesive applying rollers journalled therein on parallel axes and alternately engageable with a label on the carrier, means for locking the gum box against oscillation with both of the rollers out of a position to engage with a label on the carrier, and means for retaining said locking means in inoperative position when a label is in proper position on the carrier.

9. In a labeling machine, a reciprocable label carrier, an oscillatory gum box having a pair of adhesive applying rollers journalled therein on parallel axes and alternately engageable with a label on the carrier, means for locking the gum box against oscillation with both of the rollers out of a position to engage with a label on the carrier, and means operative upon a failure of a label to be properly positioned on the carrier for rendering said locking means operative.

-10. In a labeling machine, a reciprocable label carrier, gumming means past which the carrier is moved for the application of adhesive to a label thereon, a picker for transferring labels from a stack to the carrier, suction means for holding the label on the picker, a latch for holding the gumming means in inoperative position, and suction operated means connected to the picker for holding the locking means in inoperative position when a label is properly picked up by the picker.

11. In a labeling machine, a reciprocatory label carrier, an oscillatory gumming mechanism positioned for applying adhesive to a label on the carrier, a latch normally in operative position for holding the gumming mechanism against oscillation, means on the carrier for disengaging the latch as the carrier is'moved, and means for retaining the latch in inoperative position when a label is properly positioned on the carrier.

12. In a labeling machine, a reciprocatory label carrier, an oscillatory gumming mechanism positioned for applying adhesive to a label on the carrier, a latch normally in operative position for holding the gumming mechanism against oscillation, means on the carrier for disengaging thelatch as the carrier is moved, a picker for' delivering labels one by one from a stack to the carrier, and means for retaining the latch in inoperative position when a label is properly transferred to the carrier.

movement of the gumming means into operative position when a label is not in position on the picker.

'14. In a labeling machine, a movable label carrier, gumming means past which the carrier is moved for the application of adhesive to a label thereon, a picker for transferring labels, one by one to the carrier, suction means for holding the label on the picker, means for moving the gumming means into and out oi operative position with respect to the carrier, and suction operated means connected to the picker for preventing operation of said moving means when a label is not in'position on the picker.

HENRY A. E. BJOBERG. 

